Baseball game



Oct. 16, 1928. 1,687,800

G. sMlT'H BASEBALL GAME Filed May 9, 1927 IN VEN TOR. 41- p gmm Patented Oct. 16, 1928 teonnwm s mn-io -i-meme.lr smee anneal g-awn;

Appli at n 1 91 The invention relates to mechanical base ball games particularly adaptedto be-played indoors.- I p r The objects of the invention are to provide s'mple efiicient andpractical means whereby thegaine otbaseba'll may be s mulated; to to provide means whereby thefskill ofthe players of ,said gameis adapted to effect the final score and by Which the most Sklllflll l tore is the succe erai players. v

The inventon consistsin the combination; arrangement of the parts and in the details of the construction, as herein set forth and claimed.

' In thedrawings: 1 is a planelevation Eig. 2 is a section taken on a spending to; 2"2 infFig. 1; I

fFig'; 8 is an enlarged detailed 'side'releyation of a fence picket; F giiis a section, with parts removed, esponding to d-4 int Fig.

Jlayer acquires the highest score and there sstul participant of the sevof the invention;

line corretaken on a line corr l;a1'1d v 1 i v C i Fig; 5, is a, section,:withjparts remoyed, taken on a line corresponding to'-5 5;-'in Fin; 1.

1n thepreferred construction of; the invention provide cylindrical drum 1 comprising sides 2, bottom 3, and. top/d5 :The, topihasa centrally disposed perforat on or, hole' 5 itherein. Fr0mthe. hole 5 'the, top; li'slopes upwardly and outwardly, whereby a sphere or ball is adapted by the forceof the gravitation, to be {carried froin'any point on the top toward and into the hole 5; Fixed to the center "of thebottom rotatable spindle 6 having operative Iconnecton, through 'shaft 7', with manually rotatable crank 8. which is positioned for convcnient operation "of the players. 1 Any suitable mechanism 9 maybeutilized to impart rotation to the spindle 6 through mannalrotat'onof the crank. S. In Eigg Q isshowri, integral with the inner end of the shaft 7, the worm 10 which meshes with the usuaLwo'rm gear 11 suitably fixed to'the spindle 6;"1Tor. safety purposes the worm ,l0 and the gearll vare enclosed within the casing 12 havi g its upper. edge. suitably secured. to, the t iQllgh 12. hereinafter.fully described." The speed anddirectionof rotation of;the drum 1 may be controlled ,byum'anual operation-of the crank S or "if. desirable suitablebraking 19. one -5mmrnechanism may be incorporated inthe casing 12 for thepu'rpose of enabling the p lay'ersjof the game to 'more e'ffectually redfucief the' v'e- *lo'city at'w'hichthefdrum '1' rotates, by means of manual operationof the crank8; whereb :the moVement-ofthe ball may becon troll' Ifbraking mechanism'is utilized it may be deonly in one direction for rotating-the drum and to incorporate other i mchanism by sirable-to jaer'mittheQcraflk 8 to berevolyed which whcnythe direction of rotationof'the -cra11l; is reversed the-rotatable speed of; the' drumis retarded. The crank shaft 7 is retained in operative position, with respect .tothe worm gear, as by strap-bearing 13 suitablysecured to the bottom of trough iQ.

The bearing 6, around spinme 6, ist'o pre- W QntlateraI moyementof-thejdrum. .1'

*"Surrounding th'e drum 1 and adjacent theretois stationary 'circlet or inner field 14; having holes 115," 16,:q17-and-18 positioned therein at pointsseparated by 90 to represent home plate; first base, -s econd';base, and third Y I base, respectively; 0fthe invention. I'ntermediate 11ole.s--15and"16; 1 6- and 17 1? and 18, and,18 and 15; are ridges 19,-;20', 2L-. and- 22 elevated from-the position oi' -the holes 15,16, 17 and- 18. Also, the innerandouter surfaces -23 and of the circlet 14 slopel inwardly ;a11d-'fdownwa1dly toward and adj acent holes 15', 1 16", 17 and 18; whereby a sphere" or: ball positioned atany point betwee'ng the-ridges'ili) mid 20;.2o and2lg'2l and 22, and 22 and-19, adapted tojbe carried, by 'grayitation, into one of theholes 15,--l6,-*17 and;;-' 18, respec- -tively. V

r j The. inner edge 25 er the circlet' isslightly overlapped by' the outer edge 26 of the drum 1 v magnum Contact of; the revolving drum v-itl-rr the" circlet isavoidedfl Y Surrounding the'outer edge'QZo 14, c'x ceptat opening28 between points 29 and 30, is tencefil-coinprising pickets32, con-. nected "to resilient members, 'or coi ied Springs 33, suitably secured to the outer edge'offthe' .circlet'. j Y I Integral With the outer edge 27 of the circlctl4 is-edge 34 0f circular band or outer field which'surroundsthe circlt. The

handr has a QpluraIity-ofSPaQe/d apart or'ip,

fthe circlet downwa y tew d t e M1 33 w b a j r el b p i qned at a P nt, up

I the outer edges of the band 35.

44 is supported by counter'or table. 45 com-, prising top 46 and legs 47. At the front 45 of the counter is bin 48 having connection with trough 12 inclined downwardly .toward bin. The trough is connected with comprising spaced apart strands 40 secured to standards 41 fixed in the outer edge, 38 .of the band. Secured to the top 42 of the 'guard39 is railing 43 curved downwardly.-

In practice the casing 44 may support the sides of the casing and is positioned below the perforation 5, the holes 15, 16, 17 and 18, and the orifices 36, whereby when a ball is received by either of the holes, orifices or the perforation it is automatically conveyed by the trough into the bin 48 for convenient access of the players of the game.

When the ball is received by perforation 5 it falls upon bottom 3 drum 1, from where the; ball passes through hole 49, in bottom 3 of the drum, into the trough. V

Suitably secured to the drum 1, near its outer edge, is basket 50, tapered downwardly for containing the ball for use in varied in accordance with the different cirplaying the game.

In playing the game, ball is placed into the basket 50 from which position it is re moved by gravitation from the hole 51 in the bottom of the basket. After the ball is removed from the basket and is positioned upon the upper surface of the top 4 of the drum, the skill of the player, in operating the crank 8 to rotatethe drum 1 at the proper speed, determines whether the ball will roll down the slope of the top 4 into hole 5, or Whether it will be forced upon the circlet 14 and into one of the holes 15,

16, 17 or-18, or whether it will be forced over the fence 31, or through the opening 28, upon the band or outer field 35 and into one of the orifices 36. .The upwardly extendingprojection 30 in the circlet, adjacent point 30 tends to control the movement of the ball. r

The characters 52 may be positioned upon the tops of pickets 32, so that if the ball contacts one of the characters and dislodges it from the picket this resultmay count a predetermined number of points, or portion of a point,.in favor of the player who operates the invention. I i

It may be desirable to secure to, the top 46 of the counter 45 an automatic score board 53, of usual design, which may be arranged" to automatically register upon its tion which receives the ball.

The casing I v of the game.

face the scores effected by the players and depending upon the hole, orifice or perfora- The game may be played by any suitable rules. However, I have found the following method of counting points to be interesting: Where a ball enters hole 16 the player gains five points, hole 17, ten points, hole 18, fifteen points, hole 19, twenty points. Where the ballentcrs hole 36 or perforation 5, or dislodges a character52 from a. picket, the points in favor of the player may be arranged according to the difficulty in preventing or accomplishing the feat.

At the completion of a game the points acquired by a player are added and his win ning, or being the successful participant in V the game, depends upon whether he has *carned a greater number of points than other players. I 1

If desirable, a coin operated apparatusmay be positioned at the point '54. .This apparatus may havesuitable connection with the ;mechanism of the invention whereby it is necessary for a player to deposit a coin in the apparatus to play the game. Moreover, a suitable lighting system, may be incorporated in the structure of the invention.

It is apparent that I have invented a a-highly desirable device for the purposes intended and which may be the means of providing enjoyable recreation of simulating playing the national game. of baseball.

The rules for playing the game may be cumstances and dependent upon the desires of the manufacturers, operators, and players WVhile I have chosen to illustrate the'form and construction of the invention by the herein drawings and explanations of the same, it is'understood that the invention resides inthecombination, arrangementof the parts and in the details of the construction, as hereinafter claimed. It is further ltlt) I understood that changes in the precise em:

bodiment of the invention, as disclosed here- 1n, can be made withln the scope of what is claimed without departing. from the spiritfl of the invention, as other expedients may readily suggest themselves to the art.

That I claim as new and desire tose'cure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device'of the class described a ball, a rotatable drum having a perforationand said circlet having a plurality of holes, therein to receive said ball and manually operative means to rotate said drum, sub-- stantially as and for the purposes specified. V 2. In a device of the class described, a

rotatable drum, a stationary circlet surrounding said drum having its top sloping said drum, andfa ball'pla'ced on 'said drum and adapted to be received by "one Ofsaid orifices, orholes substantially as and for theupwardly from its center to its outer edge and having a perforation at-its center and said circlet having aplurahty of holes thereinya bandsurrounding said circlet-and I rounding said drum and said circlet havin a' plurality of holes therein representing honieplate, first! base second base. and third base, the surface of said circlet sloping to Ward said holes, and the surface of said drum sl ping upwardly from its center ton'ard its outer edgcand'said druni'havingra hole at center, and manually operative means to rotate said drum,substantially as and for the purposes specified. I g o n I I 4-. In a device of' the class describeda rotatable druin, having a top having acentrally disposed hole therein, the;'top sloping toward said hole, a stationary circlet'surrounding saiddruin andsaidcirclet having a plurality of holes therein, the s'urface' of said circlet sloping downwardly toward-said holes, a band surrounding said circlet and having a plurality of orifices therein, the surface 1 of said band sloping toward said orifices, inanuallyoperative means to rotate purposes specified. V

5. In a base ballgaine, the combination with a, ball, of a rotatable drum having a perforation in its top to receive said ball, the

surface of said top sloping toward fora-tion, aninner field comprising a circlet having four holes therein to receive said ball, sald holes representing home plate, first base,

I second base," and third base, the surface of said circlet sloping toward said holes, an

outer field comprising a circular bandhavns; ajplurality oforifices therein to receive means to rotate said clrun'rwliereby 'sa'id ball caused to be received by one of said holes.

orifices or perforation, substantially as and for the purposes specified. I v v fijIn abase ball 'garne, the comb nation 7 with a ball, of a rotatable druni' havinga I on perforation inits centerfto receive thelba'll, v p 4 g r I "base, and third base, the surfaceof saidcircletnsloping toward" said holes, anoiiterfield the surface of said top sloping toward "said perforation, an inner field comprising a'circlet having four holes therein to receive said ball, sa d holes representing home j'plate, first base, second base, and third basefthe surface of said circlet sloping toward said holes, an outer field coinprlsing acircular bandlliavmg a plurality or orifices there n to receive said ball, the surface of said field sloping toward said, or1fices,.'and in'a'nually operative 1 means to rotate said druin whereby said ball id p -1 surface of said band SlOPlIlg toward stud "orifices, areturn' bin forsaidball, fnea'ns to ;circularj band having a plurality of orifices therein to receive said balls, the surface of said band sloping toward said orifices, a fence intermediates-aid innerfield' end said trough to receive said balls from said Pier ,foration', holes and orifices and to conve the same to "said bin, aibasket to retain said tans beforeeachi p 1ay,iandinanua}1y 0' era- "tive means to rotate'said drum whereby one of said balls is causedgto be received by'one of said holes, orifices or perforation, "substan tially' as andfor the purposes described.

arareaabedmm 8Q'In a baseball gah1e,the" combination livith a counter-and a ball,'of a rotatable drum having a perforation in its topto receive said ball, the surface ofsaidfiop sloping toward said perforation, an 7' inner field comprising a circlet'having four holes therein to receive said ball,'said holes representing home plate,'first'base, second base, and thirdfb'a'se, the "siirfaceof said 'circlet sloping toward said 'hol'es,' .'an out-er field 'coln'prlsing acircular band hav'in a plurality of orifices therein to receive said ball,"-the convey the ballfrom said perforation, -holes and'fo'rifices tosaid bin,-rn anu'ally operative means to {rotate said 11mm whereby said will is caused to be received" by one of said hole'S,

- i-ifi r' "perforations?" substantially 'as described, v p

' 9. In, a" base ball gaine, the cdi'nbihatibn a" rotatable druni"ha'viin a "perforatlon'tin its. tap to rcive s'a'idi balls, the slime-e01, said top ,siopingtewnrd saidperfirationfan inner field comprising a ci'iclet having'four holes therein to receive saidhalls said libles representing; home" plate, 'first' base," second comprising a circnlai band "having a pluralwith a. counter "and a' plurality of balls,"of

'ity of orifices'therein' toi'rec'eive said balls, the surfaceof said smasmmn iwward'said orifices, areturn-loin for said ballsfian 'in- 'clinedft'ifough to receive th'eballs fronr said perforation, liolesand orific s and tz'onvey ng' the-same was bin, a basket 'toret'ain said balls before 'eachplay, manuall operative means to rotatesaiddriini whereby one Ill of said balls iscaused to be received by one of said holes, orifices or perforations, sub stantially as and for the purposes described.

10. Inv a base ball game, a rotatable'drum having a top sloping downwardly toward thecenter thereof, and said top havingperforation therein, a circlet surrounding said drum and havinga plurality of holes therein to represent home plate, first base, second base, and third base and the upper surface of said circlet adjacent said holes sloping clownwardly toward said holes, an outer field surrounding said circlet and havinga plurality orifices therein, the surface of said outervfielc sloping downwardly toward said .orifices, manually operative means to rotate the drum at a predetermined speed whereby when a ball is placed upon lilietop of said drum said ball is adapted by the'centrifugal force of said drum to be forced upon said circlet and carried into one of said holes, and when the rotatable speed of said drum is inwar'dly toward the center thereof, and said top having a perforation therein, a circlet surrounding said drum and having a plurality of holes therein representing home plate, first base, second base, and third base and the upper I said holes sloping downwardly toward said holes, a fence surrounding said circlede2 cept at a point intermediate said home plate and said first base, an outer band surrounding said outlet and having a plurahty of' orifices therein, the upper. surface of said band adjacent said orifices sloping downwardly, and said fence comprising a plurality of coiled springs secured to the outer edge of said circlet and each of saidsprings havlng attached thereto a picket having-Ks top elevated from'said outer edge of said circlet,

characters releasably secured to said pickets, aguard surrounding said band and having a railing thereon, manually operative means to rotate said druinwhereby when a ball is placed upon the top of said drum said ball is adapted, by the centrifugal force of said drum, to be forcedupon said circlet and carried into one of said holes, and when the rotatable speed of saiddrum is increased said ballinstead of entering one of said holes is.

adapted to be forced over said fence, detach one of said characters from said pickets and.

travelonto said band to be received by one of said orifices, and when therotatable speed of said drum is sufficiently reduced said ball rotatable drum having a to surface of said circlet adjacent I instead of traveling from said drum onto said circlet is adapted to be carried by gravi tation into said perforation.

,12. Ina device of the class described, a

sloping downwardly toward the contort ereof, and said top having a perforation therein, a oirclet surrounding said drum and havin 'a plurality of holes therein representing home plate, first base, second base, and third base mnd the upper surface of said circlet adjacent'said holes sloping downwardly toward said holes, a fence surrounding said circlet,

except at a point 'iterinediate said home plate and said first base, and said fence com-- risin a )lu slit 1 of coiled )rin' s secured in spaced apart relation to the outer edge of said circlet, and a picket attached to each of said springs, a character releasablyfsecured to each of said pickets, a band surroundingsaid cirolet'and having a plurality of orifices therein, the upper surface of said outer field adjacent said orificessloping downwardly towards sai'd'orifices, a guard surrounding said band and having a railing thereon, manually operative rne'ans to'rotate said drum whereby when a ball placed upon the top of said drum said ball is adapted, by the vcentrifugal force of said drum, to be forced upon said circlet and carried into one of said holes, and whenthe rotatable speed of'said drum is increased said'ball instead of entering oneof saidholes is adapted to be forced over said fence,detach one of said characters from said pickets and travel onto said band to be received by one of said orifices, and when the rotatable speed of saiddrum is sufficiently reduced said ball instead of traveling from said drum ontosaid. circlet is adapted to be carried by gravitation into said perforation, a common return bin for the balls, and -a trough connecting said perforations, holes and orifices with said bin; r V

13.- In a device of the class described, a. rotatable drum having a top sloping downwardly toward the center' thereof, and said tophaving a perforation therein adapted to receive a ball, a; circlet surrounding said drum and having a plurality of holes therein to represent home plate, first base, sec 0nd base, and third base and the surface of said circlet adjacent said holes sloping downwardly toward said holes, an outer fieldv or bandsurrounding said circlet andhaving a plurality of orifices therein, the surface of said outer, field near said orifices sloping downwardly towards said orifices, manually operative means to rotate said drum whereby said drum is rotated'at. a predetermined speed and said ball is placed upon thegtop of said drum the said ball is "adapted to be forced upon said circlet'and' carried into one of said holes, and when therotatable speed ofsaid drum is increased said ball inill) stead of entering one of said holes is adapted to be forced onto said outer field to be received by one of said orifices, and when the rotatable speed of said drum is sufficiently reduced said ball instead of traveling from perforation therein, a circlet surrounding said drum and having a plurality of holes therein to represent home plate, first base,

second base, and third base and the upper surface of said circlet adjacent said holes sloping downwardly toward said holes, a fence surrounding said circlet except at a point intermediate saidhome plate and said first base and said fence comprising a plurality of coiled springs secured to outer edge of said circlet, and pickets secured to the said springs, characters releasably secured to each of said pickets, an outer field surrounding said circlet and having a plurality of orifices therein, the upper surface of said outer field adjacent said orifices sloping downwardly and having a railing thereon,

manually operative means to rotate said drum whereby the rotatable speed of said drum is controlled, whereby a ball placed upon the top of said drum is adapted by the centrifugal force to be forced upon said circlet and carried into one of said holes, and when the rotatable speed of said drum is increased said ball is adapted to be forced over said fence, detach one of said characters from said pickets and travel onto said outer field to be received by one of said orifices and when the rotatable speed ofsaid drum is sufficiently reduced said ball instead of traveling from said drum onto said circlet and said outer field is adapted to be carried by gravitation into said perforation, and the number ofballs received by said holes, orifices and perforations indicating the skill of the player in operating said game.

15. In a device of the class described, a ball,

a rotatable drum having a perforation in its top, said top sloping downwardly toward said perforation, a stationary circlet surrounding said drum and said circlet having a plurality of holes therein to receive said ball and manually operative means to rotate said drum, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

GOLDWIN SMITH. 

